Injury to Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist rarely seen in athletes

By Jenna Dentice | Feb 10, 2015

Feb 2, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) uses his helmet to make a save against the Florida Panthers during the third period at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Panthers 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist suffered an injury January 31st during a matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes, after he took a puck to the throat.

Although athletes suffer injuries that force them to miss extended time frequently, it’s not every day you hear about an NHL goaltender sustaining a ‘vascular injury’ after taking a puck to the throat. The damage the puck caused is putting New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist out for a minimum of three weeks.

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The Rangers are currently tied for third with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference, and now is not the time to lose your starting goaltender. Standings have shifted drastically as of late and are not expected to slow down as the league approaches postseason play.

Backup goalie Cam Talbot will be taking Lundqvist’s place while he takes care of the situation.

Talbot’s current record sits at 5-5, leaving the Rangers and their fans hoping for some good luck. However, players, including Talbot, are ready to step it up considering what’s at stake come this point in the season.

This past Sunday, Lundqvist addressed the media explaining that his vascular injury is a “sprained blood vessel”, an injury you don’t regularly hear about in professional sports. Due to the nature of the injury, it makes the seriousness of the matter even more realistic.

The injury occurred when fellow Rangers teammate Ryan McDonagh’s stick accidentally lifted Lundqvist’s neck guard at the exact time he turned his head to the right, exposing the left half of his neck. The biggest risk following trauma to a blood vessel in the neck is a stroke.

Lundqvist’s status will be regularly reevaluated, and he will open up to more cardiovascular activity and skating as the injury heals. He hopes to be back in playing at full power within the next three weeks.

The Rangers are set to meet the Colorado Avalanche this Thursday, where Talbot’s ability to protect the net under this amount of pressure will be determined.

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